Detroit Pistons Quietly Getting Stronger

Allen has realised he is not the first scoring option anymore. He doesn't even share it like he did in Denver. He realises he is now on a team where four out of the five players on the court at any one time normally share that first option status.

"I feel like I understand my role a lot more than I did at first," Iverson said. "I understand that there's not going to be games that my team, night in and night out, needs me to score 30 points. It's a different adjustment for me. I averaged 30 points my whole career, and I'm under 20 points here.

"People think that's going to be something that's going to bother me. But I feel like the window of opportunity for me is still open. Especially being in this situation, I think it makes it that much more easier for me."

Allen is putting his team first. He doesn't have to. His contract runs out at the end of the year. He could simply keep putting shots up and keeping his place in those record books, but as the quote above suggests, he is aiming for bigger things.

Whether the trade was a good idea or not, it has happened now, and Iverson will be a Piston until the end of the season at least.

Now, it remains to be seen if Detroit can play with the big boys the way they did with Orlando, and if they can make that playoff push and still be a force in the NBA's second season.

And though it may not be in such an obvious way as before, it will be Allen Iverson who takes them there.

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